Concerns about the mental health crisis of Syrian children one month after the Syrian-Turkeye earthquake

A Syrian World Vision employee meets with a displaced family at a makeshift shelter in northwestern Syria. [사진=월드비전]

(Seoul=International News) Reporter Seojoong Kim = World Vision, an international relief and development NGO, warned that the devastating earthquake that struck northwestern Syria on February 6 and the conflict that began in March 12 years ago are of particular concern for children’s mental health.

Mental health experts from World Vision, a child-focused NGO active in Syria since 2013, said that even before last month’s earthquake, most children in northwestern Syria were suffering from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the conflict. It is predicted that the mental health condition of the family will deteriorate further.

Remnants of buildings destroyed by the earthquake and Syrian children [사진=월드비전]

A World Vision survey of 322 households in northwestern Syria found that 94% of the households surveyed were damaged by the quake, 51% had their homes destroyed, and 82% were living in temporary shelters. . Additionally, 42% of respondents said that local education facilities were damaged, and 84% of these said the earthquake had affected their children’s access to educational services, increasing the risks facing children of child exploitation, child labor, child marriage, and other things. said.

Also, a study conducted by World Vision last year showed that 66% of the children who responded thought they were “very likely” to attempt suicide because of stress from their overall life circumstances. Another study conducted by World Vision Partners in 2021 at a time of heightened conflict in Syria’s Idlib region found that 100% of internally displaced people under the age of 18 in the region exhibit symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Additional research conducted by World Vision explored the negative coping methods many Syrians have turned to, showing increases in suicidal thoughts, chronic violence, child marriage and child labor.

Remnants of buildings destroyed by the earthquake and Syrian children [사진=월드비전]

“The devastating earthquake and the 12 years of conflict that preceded it caused not only the visible but also the psychological toll,” said Johan Mooij, director of World Vision’s Syria response. Unfortunately, children in northwest Syria are accustomed to constant and pervasive trauma. “Mental health experts at World Vision continue to warn that if left unattended to this mental anguish, it will lead to mental health catastrophe. A month following a devastating earthquake hit Turkey and Syria, humanitarian aid in Syria has yet to meet the enormous needs of Syrian refugee families and children who have suffered from multiple crises over the past 12 years. It is urgent to open all access routes to northwest Syria and expand humanitarian aid through funds allocated for emergency response. Only this will ensure that children overcome their mental health crisis and their trauma is resolved.”

World Vision chief mental health expert Fiona Koyiet said, “Continued exposure to severe stressful situations in childhood can lead to a range of behavioral and emotional problems, including suicidal thoughts, aggressive behavior, and difficulty relating to others. there is. In particular, post-traumatic stress disorder following an event such as the recent earthquake might become more serious,” he warned. She continued, “Previous studies can find that earthquakes increase psychiatric problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. Even before the earthquake, Syrian children were exposed to long-term conditions that might increase their risk of stress-related mental and cognitive impairment. It is essential that we prioritize support for children’s mental health so that a severe impact on their lives can be prevented.”

Meanwhile, World Vision aims to provide a total of regarding KRW 63.5 billion (USD 50 million) for emergency relief activities in Syria and Turkey, up from the initial KRW 12.7 billion (USD 10 million). World Vision is carrying out relief activities centered on Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Kilis, Adiyaman, and Hatay in Turkey, and Azaz, Afrin, Idlib, and Aleppo in northern Syria. You can participate through the homepage, Naver Happy Bean, and Kakao Together.